No reviews today as we prepare for Gregorian Calendar Christmas and finals for the school. In my stead, I offer to you Kazdoura, a singer from Canada who is of Levantine Arab descent. This is a touch of Arabic pop blended with trip-hop, jazz and psychedelic Andalou Rock.
Syria
Deben Bhattacharya – Behind the Scenes of ‘Ecstatic Dances of the Whirling and Howling Dervishes’
From the Youtube link: “Ecstatic Dances of the Whirling and Howling Dervishes of Turkey and Syria: http://store.arcmusic.co.uk/ecstatic-… The Mevlevi Order of the Whirling Dervishes was inaugurated in Turkey in 1273. This CD features dances of the Whirling Dervishes from Turkey and Syria. These are authentic field recordings by ethnomusicologist Deben Continue Reading
Mohammad Syfkhan – I Am Kurdish
A very pleasant release from Mohammad Syfkhan, a Kurdish musician currently based in Ireland. From the Nyaah Records Bandcamp site: “Mohammad’s own brand of ecstatic music takes elements from Middle Eastern and North African music to create an atmosphere of joy, love and happiness. The songs on ‘I am Kurdish’ Continue Reading
Syriana – Hārim
Syriana are an interesting project released by Real World Records. Here’s the back story, courtesy of the label’s Bandcamp site: “In 2010 Syriana’s album The Road to Damascus presented a musical reflection by Nick Page & Bernard O’Neill of their take on the geopolitical landscape surrounding Syria at the time. Continue Reading
Various Artists – Les Disques Bongo Joe: Solidarity With February 2023 Earthquake Victims
The earthquake which has ravaged Turkey and Syria should not be forgotten about despite the blindingly fast news barrage we’re living through. The Swiss label Bongo Joe have offered this pay-what-you-like compilation featuring Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek, Oldu O Zaman and Altın Gün, who have graciously given tracks to Continue Reading
Eromoscape (مشهد قحل) – Underwater Breathing
Eromoscape is an ambient artist from Syria, but not the kind who implements pulses (as opposed to beats, which is, as I understand it, against the original principle of ambient music) which are dark, somewhat foreboding, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Adjin Asllan, Tarik Bulut, The Garabed Brothers, et al. – In An Egyptian Garden
From the legendary Canary Records Bandcamp site: From the 1910s through the 1950s, immigrants released 78rpm discs marketed to their own language / ethnic groups, and that practice survived for a century well into the era of the 33rpm, 45rpm, cassette, and CD era. But from the mid-50s though the Continue Reading